God, I've missed Annika and company.
Liza Marklund kind of takes her time between books, but it's always worth the wait. It's not that she's the only person writing Nordic noir - she certainly isn't. She's not even the only woman writing Nordic noir.
But she is unique.
Not everyone can create characters that are a mess, and staggeringly competent, at the same time. And that, of course, is what makes Annika so attractive. We can all relate to the messiness, and we all aspire to the competence.
Annika's personal life is always complicated but, in this book, it's positively thorny. Her ex, Thomas, is descending into madness (or at least bitter hatred); her boyfriend's daughter hates her; and she may have to move from an apartment she loves to a place she doesn't even like.
Then, there's work. Annika's boss, Anders, is facing a scandal that's reverberating throughout Swedish journalism. He enlists her help to clear him, and she embarks on the assignment with a new trainee in tow.
Meanwhile, we're reintroduced to Nina Hoffman, who's joined the National Crime unit. She plays a large role in the plot - I think we probably spend as much time with her as we do with Annika - which makes me wonder if Marklund is setting her up to become a much more significant character.
Personally, I hope so. She's a great balance to Annika's more chaotic presence.
I'm not going to discuss the plot - you can read a summary in a hundred other places. All you need to know is that, if you enjoy Scandanavian crime fiction, you'll enjoy this.
My one problem is the treatment of Thomas (Annika's ex). He's like a cartoon villain - he's petty, self-absorbed, and impotent. It's impossible to take him seriously.
Still, I loved 'Without a Trace.' It was absorbing and engaging a terrific summer read.